New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-21
MORE BID FAITH WITH INDIAN.

MORE Bad FAITH WITH INDIANS.
Mr.. Herbert Welsh, corresponding secretary
of tho Indian Rights Association, has been
examining the condition Of the Apachcs CON
fined at Fort Marion. Fla. His report dis
closes such action on the part OF the Govern
mcnt toward many Of these Indians as would
certainly expose any individual guilty Of Sim
liar conduct 10 the indignant rcprobatlon oil
every honest man In the community. For IL
appears that the Government has imprisoned
tho innocent and the guilty Unfortunately
that 1t has subjected the loyal and faithful men
who served rs army scouts against the hostlea
10 precisely the same treatment as the hosules
that 1t has done worse than this, having first
deceived Chief Chatto "a loyal lndan) to Wash
ington, then promised him Il reservation. next
pretended 70 send him home and on the way
literally abducted him and with what looks
like deliberate pcrfidy dispatched him with his
party prisoners to Fort Marion. The baSeness
OF this action is only more conspicuous than its
folly. 1t is calculated to bring the Government
OF the United States into deserved contempt
and hatred among all Indian tribes; for the
savagcs can reason. and they know that
power which practscs bad faith toward any
of them NAV do the same toward all OF them.
Unhappily for our national reputation, there
is but too strong ground for such suspicion in
tho history Of our past relations with the In
dams, and it really seems ne though where
these nomads were concerned our officials lost
sight Of every consideration Of honor and
uuthfulncss. Tho treatment OF Chatto de
serves to lie styled Infamous. This man had
served the Republic we'll for years. Secretary
Lamar and his son formally acknowledged his
innocence and his services. The former pre-
scented him with medal Of honor even. Dur
ing his stay NJ Washington there was no qucs-
ton Of his right 10 his freedom or OF his title
70 4 substantial reward Yet the result indi-
Gates. or justilics the inference. that the Gov
cinmcnt had all the time determined to bctrTly
and imprson him. and in the end he was de-
ccivcd with lies until nc was helpless IT Is
shameful story and one which should rouse the
Indignation and disgust Of every American
Jealous Of the honor Of his country. Nor Il
the treatment OF R-cta and Martinez. the
Apachcs who were employed TO bring about
Gcronimo's surrender much more honorable.
But for tho work Of these men it is doubtful
whether Geronimo would lave come in. They
were promised n reward which they did not
which they did not regard rs an equivalent
Not only were they cheated in this but they
arc now repaid for tho good service they did
Ly bcag imprisoned. Then there is the case
Of Socke. the lamcntcd Crawforl's chief Of
scouts. and tc one who killed the murdcrouS
Mexican whose bullet had passed through
Crawford's brain. His reward for this is in
carccIaion at Fort Marion.
Mr. Welsh cites other cases Of rank and pal
pahle injustice. and the whole Of his report
demonstrates that the Government has cXcr-
ciscd no discrimination whatever in regard TO he
Chricahuas. but that Gcy have been Jumped to-
gethcr and subjected TO one common fate with
out more regard to tilc merits Of the widely
different cases than if they had been so many
cattle or wild beasts incapable of asoning
or Of feeling wrong and outrage intclligcntly
BEYOND question this matter calls for inycsd
CATION it does morc-it points to the necessity
of putting all Indians under the law of The
land, not merely that they may he punishable
for their crimes. but that they may he projected
against the trcachciy and oppression which
even the Government Of the United States Is
not too digniGed or sclf-rcsEccting TO practise
upon its helpless and undcfcndcd wards. Sub
jcct the Indian TO the laws; give him the
rights and exact from him the duties of citizen
ship; and while he will cease TO dcyastntc our
borders and TO check settlement in the rcmo'cr
Territories. he will no longer lie at the mercy
of lazy or constituencies officials, domneering
and dcspotc military authorities, or the vile
troop of adventures and rogucs that have fat
tened in the past upon the reservation system.
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